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The World Bank's Board of Executive Directors has approved $270-million financing to bolster Bangladesh's flood recovery efforts and enhance its resilience to future disasters.
The programmes include support for constructing and rehabilitating critical infrastructure, strengthening agricultural systems, and improving livelihoods in the areas devastated by the August 2024 floods.
The Bangladesh Sustainable Recovery, Emergency Preparedness and Response (B-STRONG) Project will build and reconstruct rural and flood protection infrastructure in Chattogram and Sylhet divisions, providing protection to 1.6 million people, according to a press statement.
Taking a comprehensive approach, the project will also promote climate resilient agriculture and help the vulnerable communities with livelihood support.
"Bangladesh is regarded as a leader in climate change adaptation and disaster preparedness. But the increasing climate risks and more frequent and severe natural disasters take a heavy toll on communities and the economy. Building resilience against natural disasters is both a development and an economic priority for Bangladesh," Gayle Martin, World Bank interim country director for Bangladesh, said in the statement.
"This project will strengthen the country's disaster preparedness system and improve livelihoods and bolster food security for those hardest hit by floods in Sylhet and Chattogram divisions."
Moreover, the project will help the country recover from that flood and build resilience to future floods by addressing damage to infrastructure, agriculture, and livelihoods in eastern districts.
It will construct and rehabilitate 79 multi-purpose flood shelters and repair and climate-proof connecting roads and bridges. These shelters would operate as primary schools in normal weather.
The project will also construct, repair, and rehabilitate flood protection infrastructure, including embankments, and re-excavate canals.
It will also support improving the flood forecasting system.
Besides, it will help communities improve disaster preparedness through providing boats, equipment, training, and drills.
"The project addresses both recovery and reconstruction needs as well as long-term disaster resilience," said Swarna Kazi, World Bank senior disaster risk management specialist and task team leader for the project.
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